Some of us are goats and others Sheep...

Caleb and I drove into the gates down at Safe ground (tent city homeless shelter) looking for our friend Dale. We have been building a relationship with him over the past year and we wanted to make sure that we invited him to share Thanksgiving dinner with our family. Right away we spotted him in the crowds of people that live downtown. We drove over to him and reminded him that we still wanted to have him over for Thanksgiving. He was so excited and said, "Can I bring my friend Kevin?" I had met Kevin several times before and thought he was a great guy. I told Dale that Kevin could come as long as he wasn't drunk. I had never seen Kevin sober and he always reeked of alcohol, but was a really nice guy. I told Dale that on Thanksgiving morning when we came to pick them up that Kevin couldn't get into our car if we smelled alcohol on him. Dale agreed and said, "Nicole I promise I will make sure he is sober." Dale was so excited and so were we. I got home and began to share with Tim (my husband) the conversation that took place between Dale and I. Tim's face didn't look relieved the way I thought it would. With love and firmness in Tim's voice he said, "Nicole he is an alcoholic! He is at his best when he is intoxicated. If he comes into our home sober he will start withdrawing and I will give him a beer." I was so confused at first. Tim explained to me that his body is addicted and feels normal only when he has alcohol in his system. Tim said something to me that stung as the words hit my ears and made me question every intention deep down in my heart for letting him come into our home. He said, "Nicole we have to let him come into our home just as he is or not at all!" Ouch!!!!

I couldn't help but think of Matthew 25:31-46 (don't scroll past this passage, it's crucial)31-33"When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.

34-36"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.'

37-40"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'

41-43"Then he will turn to the 'goats,' the ones on his left, and say, 'Get out, worthless goats! You're good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—

I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.'

44"Then those 'goats' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?'

45"He will answer them, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.'

46"Then those 'goats' will be herded to their eternal doom, but the 'sheep' to their eternal reward."

Oh Lord!!! I am humbled!

When I looked at why I was hesitant to let Kevin come over it had very little to do with Kevin and everything to do with my heart.

I was actually okay with him being drunk and realized that I was afraid of what my other thirty guests would think of me for letting a drunk into my home.

Shame on me!!

Tim reminded me that I had to except Kevin for who he is and through that relationship show him the hope I have through a life lived for Jesus.

I have this one life to be a goat or a sheep....

I want to be a sheep!!!

I want to follow my shepherd. I want to know his voice so well that when he tells me to invite, I invite! When he tells me to serve, I serve! When he tells me to forgive, I forgive! I want to know my shepherds voice in the darkest of places. I want Kevin to know the shepherd that loves him, feeds him, clothes him, and excepts him for who he is.

If all my guests would have been offended by Kevin the dirty, homeless, no teeth, drunkard then that would have been shame on them... not shame on Kevin.

I want to feed Jesus!

I want people to see Jesus in me, through me and everywhere around me. In every situation, in every trial, in every victory, in every moment I want my life to be inconvenienced with the Kevin's of the world.

It is so easy and comfortable to just make excuses for why we can't do things, why we can't serve God, why we are to busy to wash the feet of Jesus, why we can't feed, clothe, and visit others.

I am done with comfortable!!

I am done with making "Christians" happy!

I have this one life, and only one life to make a difference.

I am ready to be uncomfortable. I am ready to be inconvenienced!

Are you?

Leave me a comment. Have you ever had a goat experience or been the recipient of someone that lived their life as a sheep?

3 comments:

Very good Nic! I remember a beautiful woman of God Janine,who sat next to me on the barstool when I was in a backslidden state, and told me how much Jesus still loved me and is with me. She hugged me and told me she loved me too. God had sent her to speak LIFE back into my brokenness and made me remember that He never left me nor forsook me. That I had value in the eyes of Jesus and my sister! He came for the broken drunks too.. Right on Nic, That is what he wants us to do. It made me turn back to God

Jesus tells us to "GO"...we need permission to sit down. I love this true example of a radical gospel inside of you and the obvious growth of spiritual fruit outside of you! This reminds me of the verse about inviting people to dinner who are not friends and spending time with those who cannot pay you back. So nice to experience true religion by living the Bible out loud...awesome post!